Impact!: Asteroids and the Science of Saving the World
Series
Scientists in the Field
by
Elizabeth Rusch
photos by
Karin Anderson
Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Imprint
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN
9780544671591
Awards and Honors
ALSC Notable Children’s Books 2018, Middle
CCBC Choices 2018 Choice: Science, Technology, and the Natural World
School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2017, Nonfiction
The Nonfiction Detectives, Best Nonfiction Books of 2017
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
None
Follow scientists as they search for dangerous asteroids in space, study asteroids that have smashed into the ground, and make plans to prevent an asteroid strike if one ever threatens our planet.
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
None
Details
Format
Page Count
80
Trim Size
11" x 9"
Dewey
551.3/97
AR
7.2: points 2
Lexile
1070L
Genre
Nonfic
Scholastic Reading Counts
6
JLG Release
Feb 2018
Praise & Reviews
Starred or favorable reviews have been received from these periodicals:
Booklist, The Horn Book Magazine, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal*
Praise & Reviews
School Library Journal
[STARRED REVIEW]
Opening with the dramatic story of a fourth grade class’s experience of the 2013 asteroid that landed in Chelyabinsk, Russia, this installment in the celebrated series tells of the study and the effects of asteroids in our solar system. This book describes the work done by several individual scientists who research asteroids, sharing how they collect data and use it to form coherent ideas about these astonishing rocks from space. Through the eyes of the scientists, readers learn about prehistoric collisions that shaped our planet, current methods used for observing asteroids, and what might be done to deal with the potential of a major impact in the future. The text makes complicated concepts understandable for younger readers without oversimplifying, and the accompanying photos and graphics are both informative and appealing. The scientists’ enthusiasm for their work is palpable, which makes for compelling reading, and their experiences allow readers to visualize themselves in similar roles as they think about their futures. VERDICT Another excellent entry into the series. Purchase this to excite space buffs and inspire future scientists.—Sarah Reid, Four County Library System, NY
Horn Book
These entries follow researchers as they document the unfolding ecological dynamics of a pristine volcanic island (Surtsey) and trace the paths of asteroids that could potentially reach Earth (Impact). Surtsey features Erling ólafsson, an entomologist with a lifelong interest in the volcanic island that formed off the coast of Iceland in 1964. He was part of the first science team on the island when he was just a college student and, over a decades-long career, has continually returned to Surtsey to observe the growth and diversification of life there. Impact profiles a collection of astronomers, geologists, and meteorite hunters to examine the history of strikes to Earth and gauge the risks of future encounters. The discussion ends with a fascinating look at the technologies proposed (or in development) to protect Earth from a major impact. Both volumes prominently feature the research methods and tools of science. Burns, who traveled with Icelandic researchers to Surtsey, meticulously documents every detail of life in a remote field station, from the particulars of trapping insects to the extremes taken to minimize human impact on the island. Vivid photographs of field locations in both volumes convey, respectively, the rocky landscapes of Surtsey and its inhabitants and the impressive size of the Arizona impact crater. Impact also contains excellent diagrams, maps, and artistic renderings. Extensive appended resources point readers to additional information. danielle j. ford
Grades 5-8
Nonfiction Middle
For Grades 5-8
Knowledge is power, and no other category speaks to this more. The 12 books in this category range from autobiographies to anthropological studies, these nonfiction titles are just right for middle-school readers . . . and ideal for research and classroom support, too.
12 books per Year
$259.20 per Year
Interests
Clean Books,Biographies,Diversity,History,Nonfiction,Science/STEAM
Grades 5-8
Nonfiction Middle
12 books per Year
$259.20 per Year
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